By Michael Kofi Kenetey
The Kabaka Foundation, a non-profit organization with its mission to spread the love of God by putting smiles on the faces of the needy and underprivileged in society through impactful social interventions and community development programs has commissioned and handed over a fully-furnished multipurpose Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, NICU Complex to the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua.
The facility named Daasebre Kwaku Boateng Mother and Baby Unit, is named after the Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, also has a mothers’ hostel to help prevent neonatal and infant mortality in the region and beyond.
The Nkosuohene of Kwahu Nkwatia who is also the Chairman of Kabaka Foundation, Nana Owiredu Wadie, who solely funded the project, noted that the project embodies the foundation’s commitment to sustainable development goal three which strive for good health and well-being of people.
He noted that he was alarmed by the rise in the rate of neonatal mortality in the country hence his desire to put up the NICU complex to help protect lives in the region and beyond.
The Director in charge of Health Administration and Support Services at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Ebo Hammond commended the effort of Nana Owiredu Wadie, for putting up the edifice to help protect lives of pre-term babies in the region and beyond. He gave the statistics of neonatal mortality rate in the country last year and reiterated that the construction of the NICU Complex by the Kabaka Foundation has come in handy and timely.
The Medical Director of the Eastern Regional Hospital, Dr. Arko Akoto-Ampaw noted that the support of Kabaka Foundation to the Regional Hospital for the past three years has been enormous.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong revealed that the NICU complex represents a beacon of light for the region’s future, a testament to what can be achieved when individuals and organizations come together with a common purpose to save and improve the lives of the youngest and most vulnerable citizens.
He noted that the region has lost precious lives due to the absence of NICU Complex in the past years and therefore the government appreciates the support and collaboration with Non-Profit Organisations such as the Kabaka Foundation.
He encouraged individuals to be inspired by the generosity of the Nana Owiredu Wadie, to build a brighter and healthier future for the Eastern Region and beyond.